24th Annual Rural Hill Loch Norman Scottish Festival

Clan President Russ Harper and Amy Jenkins

The Rural Hill Loch Norman Scottish Festival (NC) was held on April 8-9, 2017.  Spring has sprung, pollen fills the air, cold mornings and clear skies greeted the sixty two clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them.  Other participants included the SAMS (Scottish American Military Society), Council of Scottish Clans and Societies, Scottish Culture and St. Andrews Society of North Carolina, and the Scottish Society of Wilmington, North Carolina.  Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.  Frank Randall, Jean and Jeffrey Reece joined us for the Saturday.  Sunday we were joined by Craig and Therese Wallace.   Council member Amy Jenkins competed all weekend in the Women’s athletics. Amy will be competing in the Masters in Iceland this year.

These games are held at Rural Hill Farms in Huntersville, North Carolina.  Rural Hill, the homestead of Revolutionary War patriots Major John and Violet Wilson Davidson is located in the Catawba River Valley in northwest Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The Davidson family is representative of the thousands of Scots and Scots-Irish who contributed to the growth of the Carolinas and put a unique cultural stamp on the American South.

The entertainment included, Ed Miller, SYR, Scooter Muse, Father Son and Friends, and John Taylor.   Eleven pipe bands took the field in piping completion.  The Games included heavy athletics, Border Collies, Highland Wrestling, Historical Folk Life Encampment, Scottish Dancing and Children events.

Saturday events included a Flag Retirement Ceremony which SAMS (Scottish American Military Society) performed.

Russ and I would like to thank all that came out and enjoy the weekend with us.  We had a wonderful time and look forward to seeing you at other games.

 

Contributed by Marcia Harper

Inaugural Tartan Day North Carolina

The Inaugural Tartan Day North Carolina celebration was held on April 6, 2017 at the Raleigh Museum of History. North Carolina has a rich history of Scots relocating to the new world. During troubled times, many Highlanders relocated to the Cape Fear River Valley and from the Lowlands, Ulster Scots settled throughout the Piedmont and Southern Appalachians.

Clan Wallace and Clan Donald were invited to the Museum of History to help educated folks on how important Tartan Day is in North Carolina. Along with the two clans where Wake District Pipe and Drum, weaving demonstration, and sword dancing. Dr. Bruce Durie, spoke on finding your Scottish roots.

Russ and Marcia Harper set up a display of things that related to Scotland and North Carolina. Packets were created to hand out to teachers to help their students better understand what it is to be Scottish and how it relates to North Carolina. It was estimated that 600 home school children visited us for Tartan Day.

Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day.

Contributed by Marcia Harper

7th Annual Tartan Day South

The 7th annual Tartan Day South (SC) was held on April 1, 2017.  Sunshine and cold temperatures on Saturday greeted the twelve clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them.   Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

Tartan Day South is held at the Historic Columbia Speedway, where Richard Petty had is first NASCAR race.

Carolina British Classic cars and Hurling where just some of the things you could enjoy.  The festival included athletics both men and women, Scottish dancing and Irish dancing, Children’s games face painting and storytelling, and three pipe bands.

What a great weekend we had.  Thanks to all that came out to enjoy the day with us.

Contributed by Marcia Harper

2nd Annual Myrtle Beach Highland Games

Clan President Russ Harper with wife Marcia

The Inaugural Myrtle Beach Highland Games (SC) was held on March 25, 2017.  These games are held at Market Commons in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.   Overcast day created the twenty three clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them.  Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

The entertainment included the St. Andrews Pipes and Drum, Myrtle Beach Regional Pipe and Drum, Cross Creek Pipe and Drum, and the Coastal Shields Pipe and Drum, SYR and Tuatha Dea.  The Games included heavy athletics, Children’s Highland games competition, and Border Collie Demonstration.  The vendors at the games included, Near and Far, Timeless Irish Treasures, The Gaelic Shop, Metals & Pieces, Collegiate Tartan, The Celtic Knot, The Heelan Hound.

Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day.

Contributed by Marcia Harper

A “Splash of Tartan” at the 2017 Edinburgh Royal Tattoo

Special Message From Our President

We just received notice that Clan Wallace has been invited to actively participate the 2017 Edinburgh Royal Tattoo, A Splash of Tartan , on Monday night August 14th 2017. Come join with other Wallace’s and march in the opening ceremony.

This is a once and a lifetime opportunity to actually be part of the Tattoo at the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. There are only two requirements,

  1. Registration is through March 1st.
  2. participates have to wear tartan. Banners, weapons, pipers and drummers will all be welcome as are children.

What also makes this particular night special is that the BBC will be filming the event. (How often do events you participate in end up on TV?)

Our Clan Chief Andrew will not be able to attend, but has asked Falconer Wallace of Candacraig to stand in for him.

The Wallace Pipes and Drums of Malta will also be participating in the Tattoo, so there will be lots of Wallace Tartan in the event.

Ordering tickets will be through a special website with a password that identifies you as a member of Clan Wallace. Send me an email to obtain the link and password. We are doing this at the request of the Tattoo management to keep the code from getting in the hands of scalpers. We will also use this method to keep a list of all those attending so we know who to contact with more details as they become available.

Checkout the official Tattoo Website for more information about the Tattoo itself.

The Standing Council of Chief’s website has the latest list of Clans and Dates that other Clans will be participating.

I know this is late, but we received the official confirmation on January 24th. If you are interested but don’t have time to finalize a trip. Get your Tattoo tickets now and plan other stops in Scotland after March 1st.

If you don’t have a travel agent, or are intimidated by making reservations on the web, One of our members Lois Wallace, has a travel agency specializing in Celtic travel and tours. Call her at 775-567-0148 or email her

Marcia and I are seriously looking at going, so please come join us.

Clan Wallace Society 50th Anniversary Gathering

Clan Wallace Society 
50th Anniversary Gathering

Salado, Texas
November 10-13, 2016

Only a short time left to mark your calendars for November 10 – 13, 2016, and plan to attend the 2016 Clan Wallace Society 50th Anniversary Gathering in Salado, Texas.  It is being held in conjunction with the Salado Scottish Clan Gathering & Highland Games, the birthplace of the Society in 1966.

Everything is bigger in Texas, especially Clan Wallace.  Attend and renew old friendships and make new ones at this special event.

Linked below is information on hotel options, events scheduled, and a Gathering reservation form. Most non-game events and socials will take place at the Holiday Inn Express. The final 50th Anniversary events schedule will be in the Program included with a gift bag.  You can order Salado Games tickets and CTAM Tartan Dinner tickets through the CTAM Advance Ticket Order Form linked below.

Veterans Day occurs during this event. Veterans may want to wear their ribbons or medals, especially on November 11th.

Hope to see you there!!

Gathering Information & Reservation Form

CTAM Advance Ticket Order Form

 

 

New Council Membership Rates – LIMITED TIME!

Wow it feels like Christmas in May!

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Clan Wallace Society, the board has rolled back rates for new Council Membership to the 1996 rate of $100.  This means that for a mere $100 donation new members and current Annual members can become Council members.  Additionally, for those who are already Life Members can upgrade to Council for a one time $50 donation.  A special letter will be sent to those eligible for this amazing offer.

Please do note that during this promotion new council members will NOT receive the first four books listed on the second page of the membership form.  You can however still purchase them if you so desire.

Again, this is a limited time offer available until the end of 2016.  You can access the membership form using the link in the menu above or here.

Annual Dues Reminder

ANNUAL DUES REMINDER!!!!!

Attention all Annual Members of Clan Wallace Society Worldwide!!

Your annual membership donation of $20.00 is due effective 1 January 2016 and should be sent to the Membership Chairman as soon as possible to keep your membership current. Failure to keep your dues donations current will result in loss of membership privileges. No individual notifications will be sent to you for this action and notifications will be limited to announcements on the website and in the next 2 newsletters. Renewals and new members, please fill out a Membership Application and send your Annual Dues donations to:

CWS Membership Chairman
4634 N. Beechwood Drive
Macon, GA 31210-2304